*sxm / st. maarten / st. martin weekly news* · 2014-08-26 · rental. please contact...
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#955 -- August 18, 2014 -- **** Breaking Timeshare News & New Vacation Giveaway Special Edition**** From St. Maarten / St. Martin
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August18,2014
St. Maarten and St. Martin "SXM" Weekly News #955
Weekly SXM News and CommentsCopyright ©, JMB Communications, 2014. See Legal for reprint requests, page bottom.
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TOP STORIES
(Scroll Down for Full Table of Contents); this edition features many new stories about your favorite island:
This is issue #955 of Jeff Berger's / JMB Communications' St. Maarten and St. Martin (SXM) Week ly News, published every Monday all year long(Tuesdays during some holiday weeks). You're receiving this because you subscribed or are a JMB Website Supporters member.
(Scroll Down for Full Table of Contents); this edition features many new stories about your favorite island: -- New Vacation Giveaway 9/1: Go Almost Anywhere Worldwide -- How To Enter
-- 2010 Pelican / Simpson Bay Resort Sale by Auction to QIT Reversed; Court Says It Was Illegal
-- For Pelican Timeshare Owners, Relative Peace is Replaced by Uncertainty
-- What About The Pelican Takeover by Hard Rock International / The Seminole Tribe?
-- If You Invested In One of Those Pelican "Notes," There's Reason for Hope
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Timeshare Rentals and Sales of the Week
-- Caravanserai Sold at Auction; Who Bought it?
-- What Happens Next to Caravanserai Timeshare Owners?
-- Prestigious SXM Sailing Catamaran / Charter Company Seeks a Small Investor
-- New JMB Membership Prices Change October 1: Join Now For The Most Discounts & The Lowest Prices
21 new stories this week
Scroll down for our complete Table of Contents
Each week JMB randomly picks timeshare condominiums for rent and for sale in SXM from the huge selection athttp://everythingsxm.com/sxm/timeshare_rent_sale/index.shtml and features them here.
To rent out or sell timeshares you own in SXM or anywhere else, worldwide, at no charge, join JMB Website Supporters. Visithttp://everythingsxm.com/sxm/about_sxm/paypal.shtml for info. Membership now delivers a growing list of 200+ St. Maarten and St. Martin-focusedtravel benefits, and your subscription also helps keep these weekly SXM newsletters coming.
SXM Timeshare Rentals of The Week (Three):
Royal Palm Beach Resort - 4/5/2014 to 12/13/2014 Week 14 to Week 50. Sleep 6 unit, 2 bedrooms, king and queen size beds with a pull out sofain the living room. Unit has beautiful ocean view with balcony, full kitchen and 2 baths. Resort has its own beach, swimming pool with swim up bar,restaurant, mini market, gym and is conveniently located within walking distance to many great restaurants, entertainment and casinos. $1600.00rental. Please contact [email protected]. or call JoAnne at 617 771 5721.
RENTAL 01/10/2015 01/17/2015 Week 2 Simpson Bay Beach Resort This is one of the few beachfront units on the resort. F-1 is a one bedroom, onebath, end unit just a few steps off of the beach with no stairs to climb. View magnificent sunsets from the balcony overlooking the beach and CaribbeanOcean. The unit features a/c, stove, refrigerator, microwave, cable TV, pull out sofa, and sleeps four. The resort offers several pools, tennis courts, aconvenience store, water sports, casino, and numerous restaurants nearby, including The Stone. $1,500 Sharon (315) [email protected]
Incomparable Cliff-Top Unobstructed Views of the Quiet Northern Simpson Bay Lagoon, Anguilla, Creole Rock; King Bed; Flat-Screen TV;Many Restaurants, Beaches, and Atlantis Casino are NearbyOne or Two-Week RENTAL -- January 24 to January 31, 2015 (week 4) and/or January 31 to February 7, 2015 (week 5) in the same unit -- Exceptionalcliff-top unit 4B at Cupecoy's award-winning Summit Resort Hotel offers unobstructed panoramic views of the northern lagoon, lowlands, Marigot, evenCreole Rock and Anguilla from a central convenient location in Cupecoy. Gated resort has a restaurant and friendly bar on the pool deck withphenomenal lagoon views and beautifully landscaped grounds. Many beaches and restaurants are nearby… Beaches: Cupecoy (clothing optional),Mullet Bay, Baie Longue, Rouge, Maho, Simpson Bay. Restaurants: Temptation, FIG, La Gondola, and many others. Breezy recently renovated unit
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has a king size bed, stove, refrigerator, microwave, cable TV, free wired and wireless internet, privacy and serenity. Want a quiet midnight swim? Poolis open all night. Photos available. Asking only $1200/week or $2199 if you rent both weeks. Negotiable. Jeff, 508-747-8281 [email protected].
SXM Timeshare Sale of The Week (Now Two):
SALE 1/17/2015 1/24/2015 Week 3 Diamond Resorts Flamingo Beach Resort Deluxe beachfront studio (7120) at beach level on the Dutch side of St.Maarten facing Simpson Bay; just a few steps from the beach. Fully equipped kitchen, king size bed and convertible sofa. Sleeps 4. Veranda withtable, chairs and chaise lounge. 2 TVs and DVD player. This resort has 2 beautiful beaches, a large infinity swimming pool, on premises restaurants, aFrench bakery, a deli and many other amenities,. Many excellent restaurants very close by. Close to airport and convenient to excellent shopping inPhilipsburg and Marigot. $1,500 Yale 516 679-6733 [email protected]
SALE: 1/31/15 to 2/7/15 (week 5) Simpson Bay Resort Marina 207, a sleep-four studio overlooking both the Marina pool and Pelican beach (a shortwalk to Marina Residences, next door). Many beaches, great restaurants, piano bar (The Red Piano), more nightlife, casinos, a Deli, and other shopsand nearby. A clothing optional beach is about two miles away. Unit features stove, microwave, cable TV, WiFi is on site, sleeps four, very convenient.Sale price: $2499. This unit is also for rent for just $1099. Timeshare tax for renters ($50) is renter's responsibility. Please contact Jeff at (508) 747-8281 or email [email protected]
Non-St. Maarten Timeshare Rentals:
See them all at http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/timeshare_rent_sale/index.shtml
This Week's Stories
Stories are numbered; scroll down for stories of interest. This week's Table of Contents follows these links:
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Section One: Getting There: Airlines, Airports, Cruises, & Weather Go To This Section
1. Is Fall The Best Season for a Quiet, Restful SXM Vacation? 2. Jet Blue Now Charges Passengers To Lower Already-Booked Fares3. Prestigious SXM Sailing Catamaran / Charter Company Seeks a Small Investor4. Weather Next Weekend Could Be Windy & Wet
Section Two: Accommodations (Hotels, Inns, Timeshares) Go To This Section
5. 2010 Pelican / Simpson Bay Resort Sale by Auction to QIT Reversed; Court Says It Was Illegal6. For Pelican Timeshare Owners, Relative Peace is Replaced by Uncertainty7. What About The Pelican Takeover by Hard Rock International / The Seminole Tribe?8. If You Invested In One of Those Pelican "Notes," There's Reason for Hope9. Caravanserai Sold at Auction; Who Bought it? 10. What Happens Next to Caravanserai Timeshare Owners?11. At Diamond Resorts, Many Timeshare Owners Are Packing it In12. Dutch Side Government Still Toothless in Timeshare Owner Consumer Protection -- But Does it Really Matter? 13. How To Advertise Your SXM Timeshare For Rent or For Sale on Our Website
Section Three: Island Go To This Section
New Vacation Giveaway 9/1: Go Almost Anywhere Worldwide -- How To Enter
Get Five Years of JMB Membership Free Now Thru 8/31 Only When You Get a Five-Year "SkyMed Ultimate" Medical Evacuation Plan from Us
14. New JMB Membership Prices Change October 1: Join Now For The Most Discounts & The Lowest Prices15. All-New "Device Friendly" SXM Weekly News Coming This Month16. See Lots of SXM Pictures at Daily News on Our Everything St. Maarten / St. Martin Facebook Page
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17. SXM's Strong Response to Chikungunya, Bad US Winter May Have Helped Tourism Surge in April 18. Think SXM Souvenirs for Holiday Presents -- But Do The Shopping Now19. Restaurant of the Week: 20. Caribbean Recipe of the Week 21. Reserve Your Members-Only Sunset Lagoon Cruise Now
Scroll down for indexes to sections IV and V, and scroll further to get a growing list of 200+ St. Maarten and St. Martin-focused travel
discounts.
Rent Out or Sell Your SXM Timeshare
Meet Our Sponsors (Updated 9/7/13) Section Four: For Members Only (Revised 12/17/13)
A. About Low Airfares We Post On The *Secret Site*B. All the Answers for JWS members: Just Click the LinkC. Members: Why Check Airfares Daily?D. Members: Password Recovery InfoE. How To Submit Rental or Sale Ads
Section Five: Background Information for Travelers (For New Readers) (Revised 12/17/13)
How To Get a GROWING LIST of 200+ Money-Saving St. Maarten- and St. Martin-Focused Travel Benefits
Visit http://www.everythingsxm.com/secret , the *secret* site for JMB Website Supporters members only, for low fares to SXM from cities across theUSA, Canada, and Western Europe, plus a total of a growing list of 200+ additional major travel benefits, including reduced-cost access to
Not a member yet? See http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/about_sxm/paypal.shtml . Cost: $59 for one year, or $99 total for five full years. Other durationsavailable. Join us today...
Now a growing list of 200+ benefits... and more coming soon.
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Contact Us:
[Revised 12/17/13]
All member discounts and benefits are explained in detail on the members-only *secret* website, http://www.everythingsxm.com/secret . If you're aJMB Website Supporters member and have a question not answered there, please contact us at [email protected].
NON-members who wish to contact us should write to [email protected] with the subject *Free Newsletter Recipient,* but due tothe huge volume of mail received, we may not be able to respond individually.
Our main St. Maarten / St. Martin website: www.everythingsxm.com .
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This newsletter and mail from JMB Website Supporters to members (including *Low Airfare Bulletins*) read *From JMB* in the subject area so youwon't misinterpret them as spam.
THIS WEEK'S STORIES:Stories are numbered; scroll down for stories of interest.
SECTION 1: Getting There: Airlines, Airports, Cruises, & Weather
1. Is Fall The Best Season for a Quiet, Restful SXM Vacation?
Many people think so, for a lot of great reasons:
First, few people vacation then -- it's back-to-school and back-to-work time, so the island is quiet. No crowds...
Second, although some places are closed in September, many are open. So you get the full island experience without the competition.
Third, this is the lowest part of low season (September / October particularly). So wherever you stay, the price is usually lower than at any other timeof year. Sun is still plenty hot and the water is in the 80s.
Fourth, weather is typically Caribbean. It's hot but breezy, and the tropical showers may last more than the usual few minutes you experience inmidwinter.
Fifth, hurricanes can happen but the odds are they won't. In fact they're usually several years apart. Easterly waves happen -- they're tropical systemsthat could bring rain, sometimes heavy, and some wind, but not at tropical storm or hurricane levels. (See story #4, below).
For 200+ discounts in SXM and low airfare guidelines, join JMB Website Supporters before you come. Here's more info:
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2. Jet Blue Now Charges Passengers To Lower Already-Booked Fares
In an ideal world, after you bought a plane ticket, if the airline dropped the price and you were entitled to the lower price, the airline would automaticallyreduce your airfare.
That doesn't happen, of course. If there's a sale after you buy a ticket and you proactively contact the airline to get the lower fare, they'll give it to you,but slam you with a major fee in the process — often upwards of $150 per ticket. That's one reason airlines are raking it in.
Among major carriers, JetBlue -- until last week -- stood out as one that charged zero to change your fare to a lower sale fare. But effective last week,that has changed; JetBlue now charges $75 per ticket to lower its fare to the sale price. If the fare decrease from a sale is not at least $150 for twopeople, you gain nothing by changing.
In our experience, some JetBlue airfares to St. Maarten are high when first released, but are reduced later on, sometimes by hundreds of dollars perticket. As always, after you buy a ticket, it continues to be useful to monitor the price of the same ticket; you can then get the airline to reduce it if theprice drops significantly. And $75 is the lowest fee charged by any major US-based airline for this type of change.
3. Prestigious SXM Sailing Catamaran / Charter Company Seeks a Small Investor
If you'd like to invest in something cool, we know a place you might want to consider.
One of the St. Maarten companies that sails catamarans is looking for a small investor -- only in the neighborhood of about $30,000 which will bereinvested in the company's boats. All St. Maarten sailing catamaran/charter companies that we know of are well run and are fully capable of deliveringa significant return on investment during high season, when they are busy practically every day.
We can't tell you who is involved or the name of the company, but if you want to e-mail us we'll be happy to pass your inquiry on to those concerned,who will respond directly. Please send your note to [email protected] with the subject "catamaran investment." We won't respond, butthe business owner will be in touch soon to describe the opportunity. Please include your daytime and evening phone numbers and a bit of informationabout who you are, what you do, asnd why this may be of interest. We do know this company and have confidence in their ability to run their businesssoundly.
4. Weather Next Weekend Could Be Windy & Wet
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This may sound like déjà vu all over again, but it's a different week and a different situation. In the central Atlantic, a tropical system may be developingthat could affect the central to northern Leeward islands Friday and this weekend. At this point, that's all we know. There's no certainty about whereexactly this system will be or about its level of strength, if any. But our friend Rob Lightbown, chief honcho at crownweatherservices.com is watchingthis system intently.
As we've said many times before, if you live in an area that may be struck by hurricanes or tropical systems it will pay you to subscribe to crownweather forecasts, which in our experience are the best available anywhere. The cost is very low and the rewards, obviously, can be huge.
SECTION 2: Accommodations: Hotels, Inns, Timeshares
5. 2010 Pelican / Simpson Bay Resort Sale by Auction to QIT Reversed; Court Says It Was Illegal
Pelican Resort timeshare owners have vivid, generally unpleasant memories of the crazy ups and downs that resort has suffered practically since itwas founded nearly 30 years ago.
One of the worst aspects of this roller coaster ride was when the resort closed a few years ago and when it was sold at auction out from under thenose of timeshare owners to Quantum Investment Trust, an affiliate of resort operator Royal Resorts Group.
Some people have alleged that Royal Resorts, a Mexican business that had run the resort for many years under contract with the TenantsAssociation, was spending the resort into insolvency with the hope of snapping it up for next to nothing.
When QIT bought the resort at auction, some people charged that what was alleged had indeed occurred.
For a few weeks after the takeover, there was utter chaos. But in the years since, Royal Resorts according to most timeshare owners has done a greatjob managing the resort and has helped restore its image. In fact, the vast majority of timeshare owners with whom we've talked since that takeoverhave said the resort looks and functions far better now than it ever has.
Now, chaos has returned. The Court of First Instance in St. Maarten has ruled that the auction was conducted illegally and the Court has essentiallyannulled it, saying it never happened. For the time being, the Tenants Association owns the resort and is liable for the huge debt "it" owes to RoyalResorts.
If you'd like to read the whole daily Herald story about the court ruling, here it is: http://bit.ly/1n74AFK
Please see the next three stories for much more on this.
6. For Pelican Timeshare Owners, Relative Peace is Replaced by Uncertainty
We notified both our JMB Website Supporters members and our thousands of Facebook followers about the Pelican court ruling soon after it happened— and then the e-mails started.
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What is going to happen to timeshare owners?
Is there going to be another special assessment beyond the renovation special assessment to pay all these bills?
Who owns the resort?
Do we still interact with the company that has been billing us (Interval Servicing)?
Are our timeshare weeks safe?
What took the government so long to make this ruling?
Is the resort going to close again?
Should I plan to go someplace else?
I invested in the notes that were sold by Pelican Resort and lost everything after the auction. Does this court reversal mean anything to me?
And of course there were many others. The bottom line is that the peace which Pelican Resort / Simpson Bay Resort timeshare owners hadexperienced over the last few years seems to have evaporated, if only for now. The rest of this article, and the couple of articles which follow it, attemptto answer some of these questions. Here goes:
First, what is going to happen to timeshare owners? We believe nothing much. Although a short-term closure of the resort is possible, no one wantsthat to happen. Our expectation is that there will be talks between those who won the court case and representatives of QIT and Royal Resorts in aneffort to resolve this. Keep calm and read on.
Second, is there going to be another special assessment beyond the renovation special assessment to pay all these bills? We don't think so. Weexpect there will be negotiations between those who filed the suit, who have never been personally identified, and representatives of QIT and RoyalResorts. The transaction will have to be redone and compensation problems related to the original transaction will have to be solved. At the end of theday, this might be a blessing, though right now most Pelican and Simpson Bay timeshare owners regard it as anything but.
Third, who owns the resort? Legally, right now, the tenants do. Sort of. Whatever happens, someone better make sure that the resort is properly lookedafter with insurance in case a hurricane hits — since that really could cause catastrophic financial problems for the resort if it were not insured. At theend of the day, it must be ensured that the resort is insured and that the insurance is legal and binding regardless of who owns the property.
Fourth, do timeshare owners still interact with the company that has been billing them (Interval Servicing)? Yes, and we're sure they are becomingaccustomed to answering lots of questions from panicked timeshare owners.
Fifth, are our timeshare weeks safe? We think so. Timeshare owners are the resort's bread and butter and it would be monumentally unwise for anyoneinvolved in resort management to fiddle with timeshare weeks. Moreover, St. Maarten law requires that when timeshare resorts change hands existingtimeshare contracts must be honored.
Sixth, what took the government so long to make this ruling? Sorry, we aren't going there.
Seventh, is the resort going to close again? We really don't think so, as we said above, but we are watching what's happening there closely in thehighly unlikely event that something totally unexpected happens. Keep reading St. Maarten Week ly News and tell your friends to subscribe for the
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latest information in every issue; as always, any urgent news we get will also be communicated at once to our 21,000 JMB Website Supportersmembers worldwide. Check out membership here: http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/about_sxm/paypal.shtml
Eighth, should I plan to go someplace else? Again, we don't foresee a scenario under which Pelican Resort/Simpson Bay resort is likely to close, evenfor a short time. So at this point we don't see any need for a change in plans.
As we mentioned earlier, we have several articles on this topic; please read on.
7. What About The Pelican Takeover by Hard Rock International / The Seminole Tribe?
The Seminole tribe of Florida, the masterminds of Hard Rock International, are astute businesspeople -- some of the best hospitality brains in thebusiness. We have a hunch that they were concerned about the auction goings-on when they became aware of them while doing their due diligence afew years ago. That could be one of the reasons they slammed the door on the rumors that for some time were rampant about the takeover.
Will the Court event affect the possible takeover of the resort by the Seminole tribe? We don't think it will affect it at all. We still don't expect any formalannouncement from the Seminoles now until after the renovations are completed in a couple of years, though we know it could happen at any time.
The interest of the Seminole tribe in tak ing over the resort could be pushed to a climactic point by the reversal of the auction. The Seminole tribe hasthe interest, it has the money, and it has the intent to buy the resort -- so on a practical basis a Seminole takeover could very well happen soonerrather than later.
As we've seen in the Caravanserai situation (see related story), when a white knight suitor buys a property, that suitor is not necessarily identified rightaway. That could happen here; we just don't know. We think it is extremely unlikely that the Seminoles have any intention of walking away.
8. If You Invested In One of Those Pelican "Notes," There's Reason for Hope
Apparently the attorney for the litigants in this case has talked about the Pelican Resort notes -- investments that were made by hundreds of PelicanResort timeshare owners in the future of the resort. After it took over the resort at auction, Quantum Investment Trust said it had no obligation to paythe notes and it never did. Some people lost upwards of $100,000, their entire investment.
Nothing is certain, but it appears that the nullification of the auction will result in those notes being revisited in a formal setting. It seems to us asthough there is at least some possibility that genuine consideration will be given to timeshare owners who made investments — to make them wholeas a result of those investments. That would be the answer to a lot of prayers from investors.
As always, we'll keep you posted.
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9. Caravanserai Sold at Auction; Who Bought it?
This was a huge week for timeshare news in St. Maarten. Not only was the auction at Pelican Resort reversed, but another big timeshare property,Caravanserai was itself sold at auction.
When the Caravanserai auction was set up, the price was set at $12 million, significantly less than Scotia bank was owed by resort mortgage holders.There were two bidders according to press reports, which caused the final price to run up to $14 million. That bid was accepted.
The name of the winner has still not been announced. There is been conjecture that it is Francesco Corallo, who owns a number of casinos in St.Maarten plus gaming interests in Italy. Mr. Corallo has been very active on St. Maarten for many years, so this would not be surprising at all if it's true.
As always, we'll keep you posted.
10. What Happens Next to Caravanserai Timeshare Owners?
If there is uncertainty among Pelican Resort / Simpson Bay Resort timeshare owners, there's an equal amount of uncertainty now among Caravanseraitimeshare owners. But as we said for Pelican, timeshare owners' contracts are protected by law so, consequently, there should not be any majorproblems for them as the transition to new ownership unfolds.
On the other hand, SXM history with "sold' timeshare resorts shows some steep increases in Annual Maintenance Fees -- Diamond Resorts propertiesare a glaring example. We're certainly not predicting that AMFs will skyrocket at Caravanserai -- we're simply pointing out what has happenedelsewhere.
11. At Diamond Resorts, Many Timeshare Owners Are Packing it In
We don't know the numbers, but anecdotal evidence (emails from readers) suggests that an increasing number of Diamond Resorts timeshare owners,for their own reasons, are packing it in there.
Royal Palm and other Diamond Resorts properties have what we believe are the highest Annual Maintenance Fees on the island, many well in excessof $1000 per week. They've been high ever since Diamond took over a number of years ago. The emails we've seen -- which almost unanimouslyrequested anonymity if we published them -- all complained about what they described as exhorbitant Maintenance Fees.
"Enough is enough," one wrote to us. "I already have weeks rented elsewhere for next year for much less than those guys were charging me. Whyshould I put up with that?"
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12. Dutch Side Government Still Toothless in Timeshare Owner Consumer Protection -- But Does it Really Matter?
The Dutch Side government announced several years ago that it was researching and would soon enact timeshare owner consumer protectionlegislation for the island. SXM has nothing like the pro-consumer laws of the US simply because Holland's culture is much more laissez-faire onconsumer protection (and on liability) than that of the US.
Although there have been some unpleasant surprises for Americas buying in SXM, the bottom line seems to be that most consumers don't seem tocare. In fact, we received a typical letter last week from a timeshare owner who lives in the Northeast. "Your newsletter has printed several articles overthe last few years concerning consumer protection in St. Maarten. I know you've campaigned for it but at the end of the day, people like me just reallydon't care. I bought a few weeks of timesharing here at what I considered to be a reasonable price. I love coming down here for those few weeks to aclean room, to friends in stores in Philipsburg and in a lot of restaurants, and to familiar faces at my resort. I pay my fees, I relax for a few weeks, Iforget about ice and snow and shoveling and all that crap back home, and I really don't worry about anything. Some people do, but I think most of usreally don't care. St. Maarten helps us relax and that's a good thing.
"Incidentally, last year I canceled my visit in March because of Chikungunya. I don't have any plans to cancel this year. I'll protect myself but at theend of the day, I'll be there. I very much appreciate everything you do and we are longtime JMB Website Supporters members. We care aboutconsumer protection at home but we don't buy anything big in St. Maarten and we are not concerned about our timesharing. Sand gravity is whatmatters to us, and we do take advantage of a lot of your discounts every time we come here."
13. How To Advertise Your SXM Timeshare For Rent or For Sale on Our Website
If you own a St. Maarten timeshare and want to either rent it out or sell it, we offer our JMB Website Supporters members the ability to advertise up to10 timeshare weeks for sale or for rent within any 12 month period. You need only be a JMB member. To learn more about membership, go here:http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/about_sxm/paypal.shtml. One year of JMB Website Supporters membership is $59, but four years is only $99 total. Inaddition to all those ads to rent out or sell your timeshares, membership gives you close to 200 other discounts across the island plus our low airfaregrid which shows you the lowest fares we've found from more than 100 cities in the US and Canada -- and how/where to get them.
Ads are free but available exclusively to JMB members.
SECTION 3: Island
New Vacation Giveaway Coming Sept. 1:
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New Vacation Giveaway Coming Sept. 1:Go Almost Anywhere Worldwide -- How To Enter: In cooperation with Dream Vacations and Interval International, we will give away a one-week trip to practically anywhere. Trips can be to any ofhundreds of resorts in the Americas or Europe; you choose. All you pay is a small cleaning fee and a one-night room fee: total $279 for a studio. One-bedroom and two-bedroom units are also available. Flights not included.
To be eligible for the drawing, call us at 508-830-3456 and purchase a new five-year SkyMed Ultimate Medical Evacuation membership. You can payas little as $59/month for SkyMed or even less per year when you prepay the five-year Ultimate. When you become critically ill or injuredwhile traveling, call SkyMed and they'll take you home in an ICU-equivalent Medical Evacuation jet. No claim forms, no reimbursements, nodeductibles, no future medical hurdles to jump across, no increased cost as you age or if your health becomes problematic. SkyMed members aretaken home free. You can also call SkyMed directly at 1-800-475-9633 and ask for Nan. Every JMB member who buys the five-year Ultimate beforeSeptember 1 gets entered ion this giveaway -- that will probably be less than a dozen people. If ever you were going to buy SkyMed, now is the time.Plus, your JMB membership will be extended for five full years free. We're happy to answer any questions: ask for Jeff personally at 508-830-3456.
Why wait? And yes, nonmembers of JMB can join JMB by phone and then get this low SkyMed pricing.
It All Ends August 31:Get Five Years of JMB Membership Free Only When You Get a Five-Year "SkyMed Ultimate" Medical Evacuation Membership from us
Having your own medical evacuation membership enables you to get home in a hurry when you or your spouse / partnerbecome critically ill or injured away from home. Without membership, you must pay for the evacuation in cash, in advance --if you can set it up -- and the cost can easily be $45,000 or more, sometimes lots more.
Only SkyMed guarantees to take you home should you become critically ill or injured throughout the SkyMed universe, which consists of the USA,Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, all the nations of the Caribbean including Cuba, plus Belize and Costa Rica. Should you need protectionanywhere in the world, you can get that, too. But the point is simply this: don't travel anywhere without making sure you have medical evacuationprotection from SkyMed.
There are a number of SkyMed plans available. Short-term plans are the least expensive in terms of initial outlay, but you must be medicallyrequalified every time you want a new short-term plan. By contrast, both SkyMed annual and Ultimate plans require only one medical qualificationwhen you first apply. When you renew SkyMed, your membership continues uninterrupted and is renewable indefinitely without further medicalrequalification regardless of your age or health.
The cost of SkyMed never increases because of your advancing age, nor is SkyMed ever canceled strictly because of advancing age, which is in sharpcontrast to other plans. SkyMed Takes You Home -- what else matters?
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Get yourself protected against the high cost of medical evacuation and you will simultaneously find yourself with greatpeace of mind.
Call SkyMed any weekday Pacific time at 1-800-475-9633 and ask for Nan or Jim. Tell them you are a JMB Website Supporters member to get thebest rates. If you're not a member, join; it's just $99 for four years or $59 for one year. Sign up for JMB here:http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/about_sxm/paypal.shtml . The cost of SkyMed is as little as $59 monthly or $49 monthly if you do not requireglobal coverage (beyond the "SkyMed universe" we described above).
You can also get complete information about SkyMed directly from Jeff Berger, SkyMed rep for the past 12 years; phone himat the JMB office any weekday at 508-830-3456. He can answer any questions and even sign you up over the phone.
Once you've joined SkyMed through us, email [email protected] and tell them you've bought a new SkyMed Ultimate five-yearmembership. Upon verification, we'll extend your current JMB Website Supporters membership for five full years. Offer open to U. S. and Canadiancitizens only. You must join JMB first to be eligible for this JMB membership extension. And you must join SkyMed only as described above and notby any other means to qualify for the extension. Offer ends August 31, 2014. Good on prepaid 5-year SkyMed Ultimate purchases only.
14. JMB Membership Prices Change October 1: Join Now For The Most Discounts & The Lowest Prices
As with everything else, the cost of new JMB Website Supporters memberships will be increasing effective October 1. Even our lowest-pricedmemberships, those with the longest terms, will be increasing to catch up to rising costs.
Beat the price increase by joining JMB Website Supporters today. You'll receive about 200 discounts across the island including sizable jewelry giftcards, lagoon sunset cruises, discounts at dozens of restaurants, plus many activities, art, shopping, and other discounts on both sides of the island.
Learn more here: http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/about_sxm/paypal.shtml
We have two hundred reasons for people to join JMB and renew by the thousands. Some have renewed their memberships
past the year 2030. 200 reasons? We offer you about 200 discounts plus low airfares plus free ads to rent out or sell your
timeshares not only in SXM, but worldwide. A one-year membership is just $59 but it's much less per year if you join for
several years. Join, reinstate, or renew today. Then you can write your own reason.... See www.everythingsxm.com
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Get a Website That Works for your business or professional practice from JMB, aseasoned 24 year-old marketing company:www.websitesthatworkusa.com
15. All-New "Device Friendly" SXM Weekly News Coming
Even millions of diehard flip phone fans are finally switching to smart phones, taking advantage of thousands of "get connected" opportunities offered bythese and other web-connected devices.
Although the vast majority of users of iPads, iPhones, android phones, and other devices, as well as PCs and Apple computers have no trouble readingour SXM Weekly News, a few do — and we're about to solve that.
Our completely new design for Weekly News is finished and it's now being tested. It's designed to work perfectly with every current electronic device aswell as those contemplated down the road.
We expect to introduce it late this month and hope you like it.
16. See Lots of SXM Pictures and Daily News on Our Everything St. Maarten / St. Martin Facebook Page
If you'd like a fix of St. Maarten information and lots of pictures every day and not just once a week reading St. Maarten Week ly News, then you shouldsee our Facebook page, which is moving toward 8000 likes.
Not only does it contain a wealth of island photography and information, but it also updates you on consequential news the day it happens -- weatherand more.
Visit it, tell your friends, participate, and enjoy: https://www.facebook.com/EverythingStMaarten
17. SXM's Strong Response to Chikungunya, Bad US Winter May Have Helped Tourism Surge in April
As we previously reported, based upon reports from several SXM resorts, tourism dropped sharply in SXM in late March as older regular visitors to theisland avoided it thanks to Chikungunya.
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But many returned in April, giving the island a needed surge in tourism. The bad North American winter helped, as apparently did the island's strongresponse to the Chikungunya virus. But much of the increase came from Central and South America, where there apparently was less Chikungunyapublicity.
More: http://bit.ly/1o6mLL6
18. Think SXM Souvenirs for Holiday Presents -- But Do The Shopping Now
If you like useful St. Maarten souvenirs -- for next Christmas / Chanukah or for anything else -- this is for you.
We have a collection of most sizes of St. Maarten/St. Martin tank tops, T-shirts, sweatshirts, coozies, notepads, insulated drink carriers, hats, andmore, and we're making it available to our readers at extremely good preholiday-type pricing. Even 2XL.
All you have to do is go to the link below, specify a man or woman and size or sizes in the PayPal Memo section, and we'll send you a selection ofthese exclusive St. Maarten items in a midsize priority mail box. We'll stuff as much into the box as we possibly can. We can't promise specific itemsor specific colors which is why the price is so low, but we want to clear out the warehouse so this is quite a deal.
The cost is just $39.99, well below the retail value of the merchandise you will receive, and that pricing includes shipping inside the United States.Sorry, no orders shipped outside the US.
You can order one grab bag per transaction, but you can place as many orders as you want. Quantities limited. Please allow a good three weeks forhandling and shipping despite the fact that we're using Priority Mail. We will ship to USA addresses (50 states) only.
Note: 2XL is not listed in the size selection (we found them late); if you want 2XL, tell us in the PayPal order "Notes/Comments" area. Order here:http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/low_fares/st-maarten-st-martin-sxm-grab-bags.shtml
The next shipment of orders goes out 8/21/14.
19. Restaurant of the Week: SPN Cafe
If you want to keep abreast of all the latest sports activity and get some great comfort food in the process, the SPN Cafe next to Pineapple Pete inSimpson Bay is the place to go.
They have meals and snacks for every appetite including fresh, delicious pizza and great burgers. Service is excellent, beer is cold, yelling is expected(you've got to urge your team on, right?)... and the prices are very reasonable.
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If Pete (owner Pierre Ferland) comes by, tell him we said hi. Do go; it's a great place.
Recently featured Restaurants of the Week:
SkipJack's SXM, http://www.skipjacks-sxm.com/ (featured 4/21/14)Trattoria Pizza Pasta, Maho Plaza near Casino Royale (featured 3/10/14)Daniel's By The Sea, www.dawnbeachsxm.com (featured 8/4/14)Domino's Pizza https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dominos-Pizza-St-Maarten/95635717338 (featured 8/11/14)Spiga, www.spiga-sxm.com (featured 7/14/14)Fusion, www.fusionrestaurant-sxm.com (featured 4/7/14)The Hideaway, http://www.lavistaresort.com/restaurant.html (featured 4/28/14)IZI Ristorante Italiano, www.iziristoranteitaliano.com (featured 6/23/14)Stone Restaurant, www.thestonerestaurant.com (featured 3/3/14)Le Pressoir, http://www.lepressoir-sxm.com (featured 2/24/14)Temptation, http://www.rareandtemptation.com/EN/temptation/
Lal's Curry In A Hurry Indian Restaurant, Airport Road, Simpson Bay (featured 1/6/14)Mr. Busby's Beach Bar http://www.dawnbeachsxm.com (featured 6/28/14)Island Pizza, http://www.dawnbeachsxm.com (featured 6/28/14)Pineapple Pete, www.pineapplepete.com (featured 2/3/14)Papagayo, http://www.cluborient.com/papagayo.php (featured 5/5/14)SPN Cafe, http://www.pineapplepete.com/sport.html (featured 8/18/14)Dany & John's Cupecoy Beach Bar (on Cupecoy beach; follow the car path from the far side of Ocean Club to get there).FIG, Cupecoy opposite Rainbow Beach ClubSt. Maarten Yacht Club, at the Dutch Side DrawbridgeJimbo's, www.jimboscafe.com
Canoa, www.canoasxm.com (featured 3/31/14)Vesna Taverna, www.vesnataverna.com (featured 7/28/14)Topper's http://www.sxmtoppers.com/ (featured 5/19/14)Taloula Mango http://www.taloulamango.com/
Soprano's Restaurant, Maho Plaza, http://www.sopranospianobar.com/stmaarten/restaurant/ (featured 3/3/14)Bylbos, Simpson Bay
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Sushiito Japanese Restaurant, Port de Plaisance (featured 3/17/14)
We'll write about another SXM restaurant here next week as we continue our summer SXM restaurant coverage.
20. Caribbean Recipe of the Week
Marlin is outstanding eating. Its consistency is like swordfish but with a taste very similar to filet mignon. It's our newest recipe this week underEntrees (top entry).
DrinksAlmond Colada http://www.guavaberry.com/recipes_almond.php#almond-colada 7/28/14
Appetizers:
Caribbean Plantain Chips http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Caribbean-spiced-Crispy-Baked-Plantain-Chips-560168?columns=5&position=5%2F67(7/7/14)
Entrees:
Grilled Marlin with Tropical Fruit Salsa http://www.food.com/recipe/grilled-marlin-with-tropical-fruit-salsa-237972 (8/18/14)Caribbean Curry Goat http://www.instructables.com/id/Curried-Goat/ 8/11/14Caribbean Sushi rolls http://caribbeanvegan.wordpress.com/2010/09/19/caribbean-sushi-and-a-first-timers-experience-rolling-sushi/ 6/21/14Caribbean Chicken with Jalapeno Mango Sauce http://www.poweroffamilymeals.com/recipes/5032 6/9/14Caribbean Chicken Wings http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sunny-anderson/sunny-andersons-caribbean-chicken-wings-recipe.html 5/19/14Caribbean Fish with Mango Salsa: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/caribbean-fish-with-mango-salsa/Sugarcane shrimp: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Sugarcane-Shrimp-358593Tropical coconut bread: http://www.food.com/recipe/tropical-coconut-bread-29185Rock Lobster Thermidor (from Cuba): http://www.caribexseafoods.com/recipes-cuban_rock_lobster_thermidor.htmlAlmond crusted fresh fish (from the Bahamas): https://www.bahamabreeze.com/recipes/main_dishes/almond_crusted_fresh_fish.asp
Side Dishes:
Roasted and Fried Breadfruit http://cooklikeajamaican.com/roasted-and-fried-breadfruit/ 5/27/14Caribbean Rice and Beans: http://tinyurl.com/mutk2n4
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Desserts:
Mango Lime Sorbet http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Mango-Lime-Sorbet-607662?columns=6&position=3%2F55 8/4/14Caribbean Christmas Pudding w/ Brandy Butter http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Caribbean-Christmas-Pudding-with-Brandy-Butter-9327/14/14Caribbean Rum soaked cake: http://latinfood.about.com/od/desserts/r/Bacardi-Rum-Soaked-Bacardi-Cake.htm 6/30/14Caribbean banana Mango Smoothies: http://www.food.com/recipe/caribbean-banana-mango-smoothie-230184
21. Reserve Your JMB Members-Only Sunset Lagoon Cruise Now
A relaxing, informative lagoon sunset sail is one of our long-time JMB Website Supporters member benefits. Sunset sails fill up fast -- we havethousands of members -- so go to the Secret Website, check out this benefit in the Discounts Master Index, and sign up now. The Secret Site is atwww.everythingsxm.com/secret. Your username and password are required.
Effective January 1, 2015, Sunset Lagoon Cruises for members will be $15/person (versus their regular retail of $35) so they can cover their increasingcosts for fuel, refreshments, and staff. (A $40 savings on a trip for two). Sunset sails are now offered on Tuesdays and they depart from Boca Marinanear Princess Juliana Airport.
Still not a member? What are you waiting for? Check out membership here: http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/about_sxm/paypal.shtml
Rent Out or Sell Your Timeshare (both SXM and Worldwide) -- Page Updated Every Other Weekday
JMB members can run up to 10 free ads on our website per 12-month period to rent out or sell St. Maarten / St. Martin timeshare weeks they own -- orany timeshares, anywhere worldwide. If you're not a member, learn more about membership here:http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/about_sxm/paypal.shtml .
Want to rent or buy a week?
*2014 St. Maarten / St. Martin Timeshare Weeks For Rent or Sale* are posted athttp://everythingsxm.com/sxm/timeshare_rent_sale/index.shtml Listings are now updated every other weekday. Ads are free (no commission)but are accepted from JMB Website Supporters members only.
Meet Our Sponsors (updated 9/27/13)
Emergency Medical Evacuation Protection:
SkyMed Takes You Home® if you become critically ill or injured while traveling more than 100 miles from home in the USA, Canada, Mexico,
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Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, plus Belize and Costa Rica. Learn more at www.skymed.com/jmbsxm . Highest recommendation by JMB.
Travel Arrangements & Accommodations:
For The Best Prices On Individual and Group Tours to St. Maarten & St. Martin, as well as stays at B&Bs, condos, hotels, and villas, visit oursponsor: Sandy Molloy at SXM Travel Specialists --- http://www.stmartin-stmaartentravelspecialists.com 704-567-6661
Rent St. Maarten Villas is the website of Villalady Bobby Valins, showcasing her villas in Burgeaux Bay and in Grand Case. See her site atwww.rentstmaartenvillas.com.
Villas in Paradise is your one-stop source for great St. Maarten Villa Accommodations.See many choices at www.villasinparadise.com or call Marilyn Pulito directly at 508-533-1388.
Emerald Cove Villas provides a one-of-a-kind vacation experience in Oyster Pond. See their website at www.emeraldcovevillas.com . Learn why*Emerald Cove* is the name.
Caribbean Days provides luxury villa accommodations throughout the Caribbean. See www.caribbeandays.com .
Villa Journeys offers JMB readers villa accommodations (and much more) not only throughout the Caribbean, but across the USA and in Europe. See www.villajourneys.com
Oyster Bay View Villa, overlooking Oyster Pond and Captain Oliver's Marina, delivers great accommodations near Dawn Beach, a quick ride toOrient Beach and the dozens of fine restaurants at Grand Case. See their site at www.oysterbayview.com
Club Fantastico, www.clubfantastico.net, overlooking Orient Beach, gives you fine villa-like accommodations in a totally clothing optional
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ambiance, inside and out. It's the perfect place for a *no tan lines* vacation.
Summit Resort Hotel, atop a cliff in Cupecoy, is a favorite. See why; check out www.thesummitresort.com
Shopping: (Updated 9/7/2013)
DK Gems on Front Street (opposite and not far west of the historic Court House) offers extraordinary eye-popping gems in a rainbow of exquisitesettings. Not to be missed on your next trip. See www.dkgemsint.com .
Zhaveri Jewelers on Front Street opposite Little Switzerland (near the historic Courthouse) offers an incredible inventory of the finest gems in theCaribbean. Offering the island's largest selection of elegant jewelry for men, women, and kids. Visit www.zhaveri.com .
Fine Food, Pastries, Wines/Liquors, Yacht Provisioning:
Le Grand Marche has several Dutch Side locations to conveniently serve you -- at the roundabout near the Bush road, next to Port de Plaisanceoff the Union Road near the French border, or their *Gourmet Marche* store in Simpson Bay. For all the details see www.legrandmarche.net .
SECTION 4: For Members Only (Constantly Updated) Please see www.everythingsxm.com/secret . SECTION 5: Background Information for Travelers (For New Readers) Updated 12/17/13 Returns soon.
CONTACT US
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CONTACT US
JMB Website Supporters members wishing to contact us should visit the secret site, www.everythingsxm.com/secret , for detailed JMB WebsiteSupporters information. JMB members can email us at support[at]jmbcommunications.com. If you have misplaced your password, you can get a newone by clicking the orange "forgot password" link below the masthead at www.everythingsxm.com assuming your membership is in good standing.
About Email Address Changes / How To Unsubscribe (Updated 9/7/13)
To unsubscribe, click the Unsubscribe link here: http://everythingsxm.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi You CAN NOT unsubscribe either by replying to thisemail or, if you are an AOL user, by clicking the *spam* button on AOL.
To change your email address, visit http://everythingsxm.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi , select *St. Maarten Weekly News* list, and follow theunsubscribe instructions. Then, subscribe your new email address. JMB Website Supporters members no longer need to notify Membership Servicesof the new email address for continued Secret Site access and to receive Low Airfare Bulletins. We'll be notified automatically.
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Entire contents copyright (c), JMB Communications, 2014. World rights reserved. Excerpting, quotation, and republication, in any form, print,electronic, or archival, is expressly prohibited without written advance permission. You can forward this newsletter in its entirety only to yourfriends. For reprint permission, email us. JMB vigorously defends its copyrights. *Everything St. Maarten* and *Everything St. Martin* are servicemarks of JMB Communications. *JMB Communications* is a trademark of JMB Communications, P. O. Box 1812, Plymouth, Massachusetts 02362-1812 USA. Join our free St. Maarten / St. Martin newsletter mailing list at http://www.everythingsxm.com . You cannot join by emailing us.
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